Promises and wise words

"As the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:1-11

I have been given this promise several times lately. It has been a strength to me and I am holding on to it.

I found these wise words in my Mum's old autograph book.

"The secret of the Victorious life is to say 'yes' to God - and to keep saying it"
George Carpenter, I.H.Q 18/5/1943

And from The Christians Complete Armour by William Gurnall

"Engage God by prayer to stand behind you. God has an offensive and defensive agreement but with you, but he waits to be called in. If you go into battle without him you have more valour than Moses, who would not stir without God even though he sent an angel as his lieutenant. (Ex 33)"

God bless

Carol

Grace

Since Philip Yancey's book "What's so amazing about grace?" was published talking about grace has become very popular in Christian circles.

I don't have a problem with that. I like the book. I am where I am, I am what I am because of grace. I preach grace, love to tell stories about grace and aim to live a "grace full" life. When I really think about the grace of God, although I am not given to romantic language it absolutely ravishes my heart.

I'm just a little worried however that grace is becoming a synonym for tolerance and I think they are very different things. The Oxford English Dictionary defines tolerance as "allowing the existence or occurance of something that one disagrees with or dislikes without interference"
The very essence of the grace of God is interference. It is God being prepared to make the utmost sacrifice in order to destroy what he hates to save what he loves.

Last week I attended a retreat for officers where a guest speaker from another denomination spoke about grace. I was puzzled because grace was almost being desribed as God being prepared to break his own rules about the need for repentance because he is so loving.
The parable of the lost son was given as an example. Jesus has the Father bestowing the full rights of sonship back to the prodigal without there being any sign of repentance. The son according to the speaker returned to negociate a deal not seek mercy. Maybe I am too much of an elder brother but that explanation did not sit eaily with me. I had always thought of the son turning his back on the city and returning home as an act of repentance.

We had three sessions on grace and I struggled not because I don't think God is a God of grace but because I believe the value of grace is understood so much more when we remember that God is right to condemn us to hell. I groaned inwardly because people around me were saying amen and nodding enthusiastically to what he was saying and there I was yet again swimming against the tide, wondering how we can speak about grace, and not give hell a thought.

Isn't the grace of God all the greater because he does judge us and we are condemned. Our sin is far more offensive that we ever imagine. He is also offended by different things than we think he is. Never mind sin, even my righteousness to him is a bunch of stinking rags.

Am I just being a grump old woman? I am just a little concerned at the way the precious gift of grace is undervalued if all we mean by it is that God is quite nice really.

Here's what Catherine Booth had to say:

" The Christ of God is the embodiment of his righteousness. He will only administer the benefits of this sacrifice in accordance with the divine standard of right. He will do no violence either to the government of God or to the nature of man. Although love was the supreme ingredient of his character, we hear no words of an indiscriminate charity dropping from his lips, no excuse of sin, no palliation of the guilt of enlightened transgressors of his Father's forebearance. He hated iniquity as supremely as he loved righteousness. The great end and aim of his coming was the regeneration and restoraton of man to the mind and will of God." (Catherine Booth from Popular Christianity)

God bless

Carol

Prisons Week

This week in the UK Church recognises the minsitry going on in Prisons. There is loads of amazing stuff going on and plenty of challenges and some frustrations.

Please pray for the following:

that the opportunity to conduct all out evangelistic groups continues

that more of our lads get saved. (current likely candidates- Scott, Danny and Tom)

for effective Christian follow up when they leave prison (especially for another Danny)

for Prison Chaplains to be more than "professionals" ( Actually we need to pray that a lot of them get saved)

for the true gospel to be preached (there is a lot of rubbish peddled about)

against political correctness when it gets absurd

for a greater impact upon staff (Please pray for Andy and Norman in particular)

that something is done to reduce the numbers of people in prison in the UK which is currently
a staggering 86,000

Thanks in anticipation

Carol

Influence

I wasn't going to post this until tomorrow but I couldn't resist it.

It's more from my Mum's old training college lecture notes. Once again Lt Commissionair Astbury.

"The Army's distinctive principles and characteristics must be maintained or our influence will wane.

1. It is non political. This is a great strength to us with all parties and governments.

2. It is unconventional. The Salvation Army is always doing a new thing. It is opposed to formality and respectability; anything to win men to God.

3. It is aggessive. "The world for Christ" Agression excites interest, compels attention, creates sympathy, porvokes opposition, secures support, inspires enthusiasm.

4. It is distinctive in its teaching about sin, judgement, hell, holiness etc. Its teaching awakens conscience, produces conviction and results in conversions.
Lack of definite holiness teaching results in inconsistency, scandals, quarrels, backsliding, declension in spiritual power and therefore loss of influence."

So that's what happened!

God bless

Carol

Professionalism

A bit more wisdom from Cadets Lecture Notes 1940

Lecturer Lieutenant Commissioner Astbury

"Professionalism in religion is the taking up of God's work as others take up Law, Medicine, politics of other occupations as a means of livelihood.................
Mere professional officers can never be sold-winners. Passion for sin can only be cast out by men filled with a passion for souls. Cleverness, education ,oratory or any other art or ability cannot do it. "Not by might, not by power but by the Spirit of God.(Zechariah 4:6)"

"A professional officer may raise money, organize demonstrations, draw crowds but only a Blood and Fire officer can build up a Blood and Fire Corps."

Holiness 1940 style

I have in my possession Cadets Lecture Outlines for the Crusaders Sessions 1940-1941.
(They belonged to my mother who was a Cadet in that war-time session)

The following are extracts from a lecture by Colonel Patterson on holiness. When did we lose this direct and simple view of holiness?

"Many have vague and wrong notions concerning Holiness, setting the standard to high or too low. Holiness is not sinless perfection, infallibility, freedom from mental or bodily infirmities, a state free from temptation and where advancement is impossible but it is freedom from habitual wrongdoing and makes sinful indulgence inexcusable."

"The life of holiness begins with a definite transaction between the soul and God. The work of Sanctification is by the Holy Spirit upon conditions.

1. Recognition and acknowledgement of inward evil.

ii. The renunication of all known sin, doubtful things and likely hindrances

iii. Full entire consecration to the will and service of God of body, mind and
heart.
iv. Simple appropriating faith"

"Assurance of sanctification is given by the Holy Spirit usually when faith is exercised. Soemtimes witheld for a while as a test, therefore consecration and faith should be maintained until assurance comes."

"Results of Sanctification are greater love towards God and man and usually a sustained and spiritual joy."

"Sanctification can take place in a moment but it is still a beginning. We must grow in grace towards fullness of stature."

The Founder: "Man's consecration must keep pace with God's revelation."


Let's do it!!

God bless
Carol

Buddha's on the shopping list

Alan and I dropped into a supermarket near us to get some food for Alpha tonight and happened to go into the household section of the store. We noticed that among the items you could purchase to decorate your living room were statues of Buddha and what appeared to be other Hindu gods. It was no surprise that there were no crosses statues of Christ or even fish symbols there for purchase.

I thought it might be an interesting exercise to write to the store headquarters and comment and see what the reaction is. The gist of the letter I am sending is below:

"This afternoon whilst shopping in the Boroughbridge store I was interested to see Buddha figures on sale in the household section. In our multi-cultural society this is no surprise to me but I was also concerned as I didn’t at the same time see any products on sale that reflected any other faiths.

I recognise that you are a supermarket and not a religious artefact store so I don’t expect to necessarily buy articles symbolising my faith from you. However if you are prepared to sell the icons of one faith I could also expect to be able to buy those of my own faith, which is Christian as well.

I would like to encourage you not to avoid the issue or react to letters like mine by going down the route of not stocking anything with a remotely religious connection. As we approach Christmas I would love to be able to purchase Advent Calendars, Christmas cards and decorations that depict the Biblical nativity from your store. I would urge those who make policy decisions to either begin or continue to stock products that are as obviously Christian as some of the products in your stores in the period leading up to Halloween were obviously pagan.

Yours sincerely

Carol Young


I am actually quite cautious of Christians shouting about our rights and going on about "We're supposed to be a Christian country." Such sentiments can often come from a fear of having our privileges torn away and our comfort zone disturbed than a concern that Christ's name is being belittled or the gospel being silenced. However I am also aware that Christians are not the only evangelists. If we our streets are not filled with the proclaimation of the gospel there is not a void for long. Some other so called gospel will and in most places in our nation, already has taken its place.

God bless

Carol

Hidden in Christ

We had a cracking cell group tonight, unpacking our inheritance in Christ. When we got to the fact that as Christians our lives are hidden in Christ (Col 3:3) David asked what it meant and although the rest of us thought we knew we found it really difficult to explain and agreed to go away and come up with a clear answer.

So answers on a postcard please.........

God bless


Carol

World views and education.

There was a "Thought for the Day” item on Radio 4 last week. It referred to the faith schools debate and why there is such passion surrounding the subject and why agreement is so difficult. The education debate is about more than syllabus, style or lesson content but behind it is a difference of world views.

He said there are three very different ways of approaching education that are based on the way we see humanity.

a)The secular view. This comes from the age of enlightenment.A child is seen as a blank canvas upon which education writes values, information and culture.

b)The Muslim view is that a child is born under Islam – Islam means the will of God. A child remains in the will of God until they reach an age of responsibility when they must choose to live under God’s will for themselves. Education is about informing that choice.

c)The Christian view is neither of these things but says that all people are born with a propensity to rebel against God. The thing they need most is rescue. Education is learning what is required in order for mankind to be restored to his original purpose both individually and in society.

Just thought it gave an interesting insight into the issues.